Power Kite Forum

Tugg Hill Conditions?

Feyd - 11-12-2009 at 07:52 AM

Anybody been out at Tugg lately? Just looking for condition report.

Thanks!

bobalooie57 - 11-12-2009 at 08:19 AM

Ya, Tug Hill has been getting lake effect snow for the past couple of days, but crazy gusts. (50-60 mph) A roof blew off a house in Adams Center Wednesday. Planning on meeting up somewhere this weekend, prolly post where under the NY thread under Locations and Conditions. Posted a couple of pics out my back door. I live 15 mi from the Tug, in the Black/Beaver River Valley. They must have 2-3 times as much snow on top!

Feyd - 11-12-2009 at 05:53 PM

Great, thanks for the report. We're thinking about driving over there to check it out if we can get some things figured out.

bobalooie57 - 12-12-2009 at 04:08 PM

So, today I met up with leebrian(and friend,sorry, we weren't introduced), ragden(and sunee), tikayak, Jackie, snobdr,(and Jackie) for a session at the Hanno lot, on the Tug Hill. Winds were lumpy and gusty, but the better riders were still able to take advantage of them. Thats why I was able to take the pics! will follow

Tug Hill snowkite 12/12/09

bobalooie57 - 12-12-2009 at 04:14 PM

Snobdr

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Tug Hill snowkite 12/12/09

bobalooie57 - 12-12-2009 at 04:30 PM

leebrian's friend, edit: (Vicki)1st time on snow!:wow:

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Tug Hill snowkite 12/12/09

bobalooie57 - 12-12-2009 at 04:32 PM

ragden

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bobalooie57 - 12-12-2009 at 04:33 PM

leebrian, packing up.

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Another session at Hanno's - Tug Hill

bobalooie57 - 13-12-2009 at 12:31 PM

Pics from 12/13 at Hanno's, Winds were gusting to 20+ from the south bringing freezing rain and rain.
Dave-Cooperstown, 3M Apex

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bobalooie57 - 13-12-2009 at 12:32 PM

Michael, D.C., 8M Outlaw

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bobalooie57 - 13-12-2009 at 12:34 PM

Brian and Vicki

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bobalooie57 - 13-12-2009 at 12:36 PM

Dave, foreground, Brian, background.

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bigben91682 - 13-12-2009 at 02:47 PM

great shots Bob, thanks for sharing those. Looks like a great spot, shame about the weather today....

cheezycheese - 14-12-2009 at 06:10 AM

i am living vicariously through you right now....:wee:

bobalooie57 - 14-12-2009 at 07:25 AM

@cheezy, note that I am not in any of the pics! I am living vicariously through them! I launched my 8M Access on Sat., before strappin on my board(snow was above the knee deep), and because I couldn't scud off the power as it rose thru the window, it lofted me out of my tracks, dragged me around in the snow, and generally scared the bejeepers out of me. Folded up and took pics. Sun the wind was stronger gust wise, so out came the 4M access. Got it ready to launch, noticed one front line was looped around the brake line somehow, tried to shake it out, kite launched in a gust, turned right toward the road/ power lines, I pulled the brake handle, folded it up and took pics til the freezing rain came. note: Dave from Cooperstown switched up to his 5M Montana, but my camera started icing up and I didn't get any shots of that. I want to thank the riders from Southern NY/D.C./Delaware/Southern PA, for travelling all that way and giving me something to take pics of!

cheezycheese - 14-12-2009 at 09:12 AM

nice little get-together you pulled off. great that everyone was willing to travel. it's just as well that you got dumped, other wise no one would be able to share in on your pics. glad you weren't hurt :spin: gonna try an be there for MLK day...

bobalooie57 - 14-12-2009 at 09:42 AM

I didn't pull that off, the hill did! Provides the conditions that makes people want to come back, you should have seen ragden, leebrian, Vicki, and snobdr rippin' it up, all on snowboards! (and Dave on skiis Sunday) Believe me, I was paying attention. The pics don't really do the riders justice. !@#$%pixel limitations.lol The new site that Jan found should be more forgiving with a little more snow(funny, most of the snow that fell there blew off!) and smoother winds. Can't wait 'til this years fly-in, gonna do my best to see that it is one great weekend!

ragden - 15-12-2009 at 12:06 PM

It was really a lot of fun. I have pictures posted, you can check the below included links:
Saturday: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=michael.d.marcha...
Sunday: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=michael.d.marcha...

These pictures were shot by my wife. She had a good time watching, playing in the snow and taking pictures. I also got my gps working while I was out there. Put in 24 miles on Saturday, and only 5 (sadly) on Sunday before my kite completely iced over and stopped flying. Thankfully I got back to the start point before it completely died. At that point, I couldnt get the kite more than 15 feet off the ground.

Great trip though. Here are the reports from my gps app:

Saturday:
Name: Tughill20091212
Date: Dec 12, 2009 12:15 pm
Distance: 24.1 miles
Elapsed Time: 3:23:07
Avg Speed: 7.1 mph
Max Speed: 22.1 mph
Avg Pace: 08' 27" per mile
Min Altitude: 1,517 ft
Max Altitude: 1,625 ft
Start Time: 2009-12-12T17:15:12Z
Start Location:
Latitude: 43.792524º N
Longitude: 75.589482º W
Link: http://maps.google.com/?t=p&z=15&ll=43.7925224304199...

Sunday:
Name: Tughill20091213
Date: Dec 13, 2009 11:17 am
Distance: 5.67 miles
Elapsed Time: 1:26:50
Avg Speed: 3.9 mph
Max Speed: 19.4 mph
Avg Pace: 15' 18" per mile
Min Altitude: 1,539 ft
Max Altitude: 1,634 ft
Start Time: 2009-12-13T16:17:45Z
Start Location:
Latitude: 43.792395º N
Longitude: 75.589229º W
End Time: 2009-12-13T17:44:35Z
End Location:
Latitude: 43.792543º N
Longitude: 75.589437º W
Link: http://maps.google.com/?t=p&z=15&ll=43.7923965454101...

Hope to see everyone up there again soon... :smilegrin:

ragden - 16-12-2009 at 09:15 AM

Did the rain jack-up the fields? Is there more snow than last weekend?
I'm almost considering a return trip this weekend, and I'm curious what things look like...

bobalooie57 - 16-12-2009 at 09:20 AM

Whatever rain that fell Sunday probably only helped the snow "settle", and the following cold froze it up for a good base. The Southern portion of the hill, and northern Oswego county are having some Lake effect right now, snowing lightly here in B.F., I'll let you know how we make out.

bobalooie57 - 16-12-2009 at 09:38 AM

So far, that Lake Effect warning is only in effect until 6pm today, and this weekend's wind forecast (NOAA) is 5-10 frm the E on sat, and less than 5 on sun. :puzzled:

ragden - 16-12-2009 at 09:42 AM

Sounds sketchy at best. Guess I'll stay home for the weekend. Thanks Bob!

Keep me updated if conditions improve. Did those new fields get any more snow? I'd really like to ride in the Honeyville area. Those fields look GREAT, but need a LOT more snow...
:smilegrin:

bobalooie57 - 16-12-2009 at 09:53 AM

It looks like Adams Center/Honeyville areas are getting some snow in this event, but I don't know if I'll be able to get out there before the weekend, but I'll try. It'll keep piling up now, so if the wind doen't cooperate this weekend, it will eventually.:smilegrin:

ragden - 17-12-2009 at 07:47 AM

Those fields just need about a foot or two and they will be great... Looking forward to hearing back from you if you get out there. I think I'll stay local this weekend. Still recovering from last weekend.
:smilegrin:

bobalooie57 - 23-12-2009 at 07:52 AM

Lookin' at montague's radar, it looks like an all day snow today, not over the lake, but from the NE. I hope we get pounded!!!

ragden - 23-12-2009 at 08:01 AM

Wow. Yeah, keep us updated. Would be pretty cool to do a Christmas weekend up there if that works out. Let me know! :)

edit: Freezing rain on Saturday? That doesnt look like fun. Unless that prediction changes, I'm not coming up this weekend... :(

bobalooie57 - 26-12-2009 at 07:39 PM

Had some freezing rain over night, mostly light mist all morning. I walked up to farmer Petzolts lotm and threw up my 4.8M NPW anyway. I got in a few hundred yard run, about 200 in one direction then came back about 100 before I ran out of steam. I don't know how you do it, Michael, I watched you tear around for over an hour straight, with very few breathers, I was wiped out in a minute or so. ah, the aged and infirm...

ragden - 27-12-2009 at 09:20 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bobalooie57
I don't know how you do it, Michael, I watched you tear around for over an hour straight, with very few breathers, I was wiped out in a minute or so. ah, the aged and infirm...

practice my friend, practice. That and learning to ignore all the aches and pains. :)
How are things looking for next weekend?

bobalooie57 - 27-12-2009 at 02:51 PM

So far pretty good! Snow Advisory from 2am to 6pm tomorrow, snow tues., clear wed., snow thur&fri. Hopefully we get a couple of feet in the Honeyville/Adams Center area. I rode at Hanno's today, at first the wind was too light to get the 8M Access working, so I flew the 4.8 NPW again, and got moving until I hit the 'null' area, towards the corner of the lot. Then the wind picked up some so I launched the 8 and got going with that! I still need to work with those 'bar' kites, after flying all summer on handles. I'm finally getting it though, now need to work on my stamina!

ragden - 28-12-2009 at 06:25 AM

Sounds like this coming weekend could be a lot of fun. Please keep us posted on how things shape up through the week! :)

bobalooie57 - 30-12-2009 at 09:15 AM

Wind predictions for Sat. have improved to 15-20 from the NW. Will update snow conditions tomorrow am.

ragden - 30-12-2009 at 09:20 AM

Sweeeeeet!! :wee:

bobalooie57 - 31-12-2009 at 07:43 AM

Well, I wasn't able to get up on the hill this am as planned. I might still make it after noon, not sure yet. There is still rideable snow here in the valley, so I'm guessing that Hanno's lot will still be rideable, not sure about Honeyville though.

ragden - 31-12-2009 at 08:32 AM

Darn, was really hoping Honeyville would be the ticket this weekend. I think we are all still leaving though. At least, all the plans are in motion for us to get up there... If you get up there, please let us know. It would be great to ride around Honeyville. Thanks!

bobalooie57 - 31-12-2009 at 02:04 PM

I just got back from the hill. It's still rideable at Hanno's with 6-8" fresh on top of the firm 12"base that was there. Snow decreases in depth headed west, with only 6-8" at the new Porterdale site. Hay still poking out at the corner of 177&155 in Honeyville. It's snowing lightly as I type this, hope for lots!

bobalooie57 - 4-1-2010 at 08:22 AM

Well, we certainly have snow, but the wind just didn't pan out too well this past weekend. Fri. wind just wasn't there, so we did a downhill session at the'big bump' Dry Hill Ski area in Watertown, just a small center, and probably a letdown for more experienced riders, but always a challenge for me! Ragden, with his big FS had a fairly good session on Sat., and Jan and Chris with their 9M Frenzy's on skis tore it up pretty well, but I foundered in the light wind with my 8M AccessII, I'm still having trouble concentrating on both the board and the kite, but I pulled out the NPW 4.8 and flew it for fun anyway! The Crew pulled out early to try the wind at Sandy Pond, don't know how that session went, but I hope ragden post's some of the pic's that Sunee took.

ragden - 4-1-2010 at 08:31 AM

I havent had a chance to look at her pictures yet. Sandy Pond was really fun. Winds were definitely stronger and pretty steady there. Snow was a bit shallow, which made for some rough rides. But it was fast, and great for those folks still figuring things out. Frathouse was up and riding for a good distance. He got pretty far downwind and ended up with a bit of a hike back to our start point, but he was up and riding! Hope to see you staying upwind soon bud! :)

Sunday turned out to be a bust. :( We were going to go to Sandy Pond again (would have been a good idea), but we went down to Oneida to check that out. Turned out the ice was a bit soft at the shore, and we chickended out. Drove around the lake look for a good launch site, and by the time we found one, the winds were kicking over 30mph.. Not so great, so we left for home. Then we got a call saying that the ice was soft near the shore, but that a guy had been out there riding for over an hour with no problems... Oops :(

Oh well. Cant wait to get back up there for the Tug Hill even on MLK weekend. Really looking forward to it. I'll post a link to picture tonight. Thanks for the update Bob. See ya'll soon :)

bobalooie57 - 4-1-2010 at 08:49 AM

Did the Arc's see any air time? Kinda wanted to see that Charger git some, just couldn't fully inflate in that wind.

ragden - 4-1-2010 at 04:27 PM

Yeah, it was flown decently at Sandy Pond. Unfortunately, the camera died before we got there, so no pictures from that location... but here are some from Saturday morning:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=michael.d.marcha...

bobalooie57 - 4-1-2010 at 04:37 PM

Thanks for the link to those great pics! Thanks to Sunee for taking them!

Frathouse - 4-1-2010 at 09:33 PM

Hey Bob,

It was nice meeting you. Hope to see you in a few weeks! I hope I can stay up wind too ragden. Next time I don't think I'll chicken out putting up the neo. Hopefully I can find some one or somehow to modify it and put a fifth line safety on it so I would feel more comfortable flying it.

-Brad